Baghdad is hot. All time hottest day? That came on August 2nd in 2011 with temperatures 122F and 124F from the weather sites. This year has two solid months to go. Imagine the future with Global Warming.
Same time, organizing troops for a counterattack was under way. People are used to getting up before dawn.
And the Russkies are in quickly with a deal for a dozen ground support planes and other goodies. Not sure about pilots ??? Expect regular flights there.
Barbarity also continues. Amnesty International had published a report late last year on ISIS: Syria: Harrowing torture, summary killings in secret ISIS detention centres
There are photos online that document ISIS crucifixions of members of rival Sunni operations in Raqqa in north central Syria.
I'm not going to reproduce the photos. They're HERE if you can't resist. It looks like ISIS tied these guys up, then gut-shot them. Reportedly they killed eight men like this.
ISIS is copying a trademark brutality of the region. You can google for [ crucified Armenian women ] for an earlier barbarity of similar proportions. Deir ez-Zur / Der-es-Zor is in eastern Syria. Similar area.
It is possible that crucifying people eight at a time is considered magical. Islamic numerology connects eight to punishment. One more odd item to add to the list.
Long, hot summer ??? You betcha. And by the way if you were waiting for a new Caliph, Ibrahim Ibn Awwad Ibn Ibrahim Ali Ibn Muhammad al-Badri al-Hashimi al-Husayni al-Qurashi, a.k.a. Caliph Ibrahim, ne Baghdadi, is the new claimant.
He's the guy ordered the crucifixions.